Transmogrify!: 14 Fantastical Tales of Trans Magic: An LGBTQ+ Young Adult Fantasy Anthology of Unforgettable Adventures

Transmogrify!: 14 Fantastical Tales of Trans Magic: An LGBTQ+ Young Adult Fantasy Anthology of Unforgettable Adventures

Perfect for fans of All Out and Cemetery Boys , this anthology claims a seat at the table of fantasy literature for trans and gender nonconforming stories. Transness is as varied and colorful as magic can be. In  Transmogrify! , you’ll embark on fourteen different adventures alongside unforgettable characters who embody many different genders and expressions and experiences—because magic is for everyone, and that is cause for celebration. Featuring stories from: AR Capetta and Cory McCarthy g. haron davis Mason Deaver Jonathan Lenore Kastin Emery Lee Saundra Mitchell Cam Montgomery Ash Nouveau Sonora Reyes Renee Reynolds Dove Salvatierra Ayida Shonibar Francesca Tacchi Nik Traxler Gr 9 Up—This anthology was created with the intention of giving trans identities more visibility in fantasy for teens. Davis explains in their foreword that the focus of the collection would be in representing identities that have been missing. So, 14 stories by authors on the continuum wrote their hearts out in fun, meaningful, and fantastical ways guided by the hands of davis, as editor, someone who is no stranger to publications including anthologies for teens. Recognizable authors, such as Cam Montgomery anchor a collection that also features newcomers, such as Dove Salvatierra, whose first published work is their short story here called "Espejismos." The imbalance of the collection does not come from the prior resume of the authors, but from the lack of development the fantasy short stories need to thrive. Readers will want more from each of the stories. A lack of worldbuilding in this short format prevents a fully realized setting, leaving more questions than answers for avid fantasy readers. Yet, the characters are richly entertaining, such as Ari in Reneé Reynolds's "Verity," who attends a magical school and loves the library, or Ella in Mason Deaver's "Genderella." The visibility outweighs these issues though as the fantasy is secondary to the celebration of intersectionality and genre. VERDICT The cover includes the quote that "magic is for everyone" and this short story collection lives up to it with trans characters at the forefront. A strong purchase for YA shelves.—Alicia Abdul "The author lineup is a lovely mix of new-to-YA names joining well-knowns like A. R. Capetta, Cory McCarthy, Cam Montgomery, Mason Deaver, Saundra Mitchell, Emery Lee, and Sonora Reyes, and the stories themselves glow with trans joy and magic." - Dahlia Adler, LGBTQReads "Fun, meaningful, and fantastical." - School Library Journal "Meaningful magical resistance." - Kirkus Reviews (starred review) “Beguiling. A polished and enjoyable work solidly steeped in classic high-fantasy tropes.” - Publishers Weekly (starred review) g. haron davis is a New York–born, Tennessee-raised young adult author, cat parent, and fishkeeping enthusiast. Currently residing in the outskirts of Kansas City, Missouri, they specialize in horror and several shades of fantasy. In their spare time, they can be found playing video games, asking absurd questions on Twitter, and preaching the gospel of BTS. Their editorial debut, All Signs Point to Yes , was published with Inkyard Press in 2022. They can be found online at ghdis.me.